KUALA LUMPUR: Whether at your favourite roadside tea stall, at home with family or relatives, or chatting with neighbours at the playground, the 13th General Election (GE13) is definitely one of the topics discussed.
Even for the uninitiated, the GE13, described as the ‘mother of all elections’, has unleashed an euphoria never seen in the elections before.
The heat of the GE13 is being felt everywhere, including neighbourhoods. Just look at the banner and bunting war that has spread through the landscape.
And in many neighbourhoods, different banners and buntings also indicate that residents have different political affiliations.
It is a democratic country
Although democracy gives people the right to choose their respective political affiliations, emotions and sentiments in the political heat can be overwhelming.
This seriously undermines the neighbourliness and the solidarity among the people within the same neighbourhood.
“Don’t let emotions overwhelm you. You have to understand, everyone has their right in deciding their choice within the spirit of democracy.
“And the key to a harmonious neighbourhood is that everyone should respect and be aware of this right to maintain a harmonious neighbourhood,” explained a senior academician from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Abdul Ghapa Harun.
If only everyone is aware of why it is important to respect their neighbours’ political affiliation, then the differing political ideologies will no longer be an issue, said the academician from UKM’s History, Politics and Strategy Studies Centre.
Not appropriate
Moreover, it is inappropriate for anyone to prevent or coerce their immediate neighbours to show their support for a particular party.
Also, no neighbour should be isolated just because their political preference is different.
Political indifferences are inevitable, but that should not be the cause for neighbourhoods to be split along political lines, noted a seasoned politician, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
That is why it is important for people to be sensitive to their neighbours’ feelings.
Don’t just think about yourself
There is nothing worse than seeing a neighbourhood divided along political lines and without neighbourliness.
And Rais pointed out that one could never forget that neighbours ‘were the closest kin’ that one could depend on during times of need.
There is a Malay saying that literally means good neighbours bring goodwill, and therefore, Rais pointed out that it is only proper that neighbourliness is valued by all, regardless of creed, colour and political affiliation.
Therefore, when neighbours see banners, buntings and posters of different affiliations, they have to show tolerance if they want to avoid a fragmented neighbourhood, noted Abdul Ghapa.
Malaysians have seen the consequences when there is no tolerance – posters and banners desecrated and rival factions fighting over the rights to put up their campaign material in the same neighbourhood.
“They have to be sensible in this, though they are free to put up their flags, banners and posters; it should not be at the neighbour’s compound,” he said to Bernama.
Don’t bring in politics
In any case, neighbourhood activities and politics don’t mix. If combined, they may disrupt the harmonious neighbourhood relations.
Even then, there is still space for immediate neighbours to indulge in conversations relating to the current issues in politics, and this is where they should exercise their ingenuity and caution.
“Debates over political differences among neighbours are inevitable. But, they must be handled carefully without compromising neighbourly relations and in a conducive atmosphere,” he said.
However, such debate is best avoided especially when neighbours are not open to other opinions and views or are easily overwhelmed by emotions.
Know your neighbours
The Know Your Neighbour programme, launched by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture in neighbourhoods in towns early this year, is timely, especially in the current election heat.
It is to rejuvenate the spirit of neighbourhood, especially in plural neighbourhoods within the city, and so far, the programme has been rolled out in 15 housing areas throughout the country.
This programme involves numerous activities that encourage interaction between neighbours, including ‘gotong-royong’, volunteer and social activities.
According to Abdul Ghapa, such campaigns serve as a reminder to the society on why the spirit of neighbourliness is important, especially looking at the current political euphoria.
“What is important is that the neighbourliness spirit has to be constantly rejuvenated to ensure the neighbourhood exists in constant harmony,” he said. — Bernama